Driver in state trooper death gets probation

Wednesday

Jan 29, 2014 at 11:12 AMJan 29, 2014 at 5:38 PM

William Senne crashed into Trooper Ellen Engelhardt's cruiser in 2003. Engelhardt suffered severe brain damage and died in 2011.

William Senne, a Wayland man who while driving drunk crashed into state trooper Ellen Engelhardt's cruiser in 2003, was sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty Wednesday to vehicular homicide.

Engelhard suffered severe brain damage and spent years in a nursing home before dying in 2011. Senne, 29, was also sentenced to 500 hours of community service at a facility that treats people with brain injuries and lost his license for 15 years.

Plymouth District Attorney Tim Cruz said Wednesday he wanted Senne, 29, to spend another four or five years in jail, even though Engelhardt's family did not want him to serve more time. Judge Charles Hely denied the request, Cruz said.

"We recommended that he go back to jail," Cruz said, citing other driving offenses, including speeding. "The judge made a determination based on the young man's history, and he has been out of jail."

In July 2003, an intoxicated 18-year-old Senne crashed into the back of a parked state police cruiser, occupied by Engelhardt, on Route 25 in Wareham. Engelhardt was pulled over in the breakdown lane with her blue lights on while investigating an earlier crash and Senne was driving 100 mph, prosecutors said.

Engelhardt, a Marshfield native and longtime trooper at the time of the crash, suffered severe brain damage and other injuries. She spent eight years in a nursing home before dying in June 2011 at age 58, and Senne was charged with motor vehicle homicide.

Senne pleaded guilty in 2005 to drunken driving and driving to endanger. He spent more than two years in jail, from 2005 to 2007.

Engelhardt was one of the first women hired as a state trooper in Massachusetts and the first female trooper to die as a result of her professional duties.

Cruz said he does not believe Senne should be behind the wheel.

"Hopefully he gets the message. Hopefully he gets his life back in order, and hopefully the family of the victim can finally move on," Cruz said.

Senne, who has built his own business since his release, said in a statement he is "deeply remorseful."

"(Senne) is firmly committed to being a productive member of society and will continue to grow his business, support charitable organizations and be a positive influence on his family and friends," the statement said.